North Korea fired 2 ballistic missiles

Seoul: North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Wednesday, following the arrival of a US nuclear ballistic missile submarine and the opening session of a new South Korea-US security dialogue. This information was given by the army of Seoul. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from Pyongyang’s Sunan area between 3.30 am and 3.46 am, Yonhap news agency reported. The missile flew for about 550 km before splashing down in the sea. The JCS condemned the launches as an “act of provocation” and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. It added, “Our military is prepared to respond forcefully to any North Korean provocation.” The missile launch followed the inaugural meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Seoul the previous day by South Korea and the US on using their military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend Seoul. The meeting coincided with the arrival of the USS Kentucky at a major naval base in Busan, 320 km southeast of Seoul, the first port visit by a US nuclear-capable strategic submarine (SSBN) since the USS Robert E. Lee in March 1981 . Prior to this, Pyongyang tested the Hwasong-18 solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missile on 12 July.